It is the prerogative of kings to keep Tricksters. We know Leika has heroquesting ambitions - witness her Crown Test in Snakepipe Hollow. Having a Trickster makes such heroquests potentially easier or more rewarding (albeit more dangerous).
> Certainly for the Lightbringer's quest and a few other rituals
> described in _Storm Tribe_ (e.g. scapegoating), Eurmali appear to
be
> useful. Are all of the four tribal kings you listed doing one of
these
> rituals? If not, they are asking their tribes to support a full-
time
> sociopath for no payoff.
Tricksters can be usefully in scads of Orlanthi quests - you just use Trickster magic to change the rules, do the impossible or the outrageous, etc. If the king has ambitions of heroquesting - or wants to be able to threaten such a thing - then having a Trickster is probably required. It is also a sign of status and wealth.
> > At least until they betray
> > you.
> Exactly. Again, how can _any_ rational tribal king like Beti Leika
> keep a ticking time bomb around, when her community won't even put
up
> with Kolati shamans outside the wildlands?
Because the rewards (status, magic, power) are thought to be worth the risk.
Jeff
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